MUMBAI: Paramount Comedy and Kids brand Nickelodeon from the Viacom stable will debut in Italy on the Sky Italia digital satellite platform.

The two Italian language services will broadcast exclusively to Sky's Italian subscribers as part of the family entertainment basic tier. While Nickelodeon has commenced airing, Paramount Comedy launches on 1 December 2004.

The new ad-supported services expand MTV Networks portfolio of brands in Italy, which currently includes the 24-hour terrestrial channel MTV Italia. MTV Italia MD Campo Dall'Orto said, "We are thrilled to be embarking on this exciting new project with Sky. Given their fantastic creative heritages, international track records and reputations for innovation, I am confident that both Paramount Comedy channel and Nickelodeon Italia will receive a warm welcome from Italian viewers."

Like its sister channels in Spain and the UK, Paramount Comedy will be specifically tailored for the local market with a mix of original Italian and international comedy television programmes and films. The channel targets Sky Italia's young up-market audience.